The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 13 Khitan Siege
The speed at which the Khitan army arrived in Cangzhou exceeded everyone's expectations.

On the third day after the Tianxiong Army entered the city, at the beginning of the afternoon, alarm bells rang in the east and west gate towers, and dozens of groups of Pegasus scouts sent out to inquire for information returned to the city. The four gates were closed tightly, and the Tianxiong Army, Heng Haijun, and Zuo Wei A total of more than [-] troops and horses were put under the command of Chai Rong.

Soldiers and horses were mobilized everywhere in the city, and civilians were urgently organized to carry food, grass and equipment, and evacuate the people. The soldiers and people in the city entered a state of battle.

Cangzhou City is backed by a mountain to the north and a canal to the south. The east and west sides are open and flat. The Khitan army set up two camps respectively, assuming a posture of storming the east and west gates.

On the east gate tower, Chai Rong, wearing a helmet and armor, leaned against the female wall and looked at the Khitan camp in the distance. He stared at the Khitan camp and said solemnly: "According to this situation, the Khitan soldiers will be able to launch an attack at dawn at the earliest."

Fu Jinzhan looked at the distance in the wilderness outside the city. Felt awnings were erected at a speed visible to the naked eye, and rows of tall wooden fences were erected. His pretty face said solemnly: "The Khitans seem eager to capture Cangzhou. City, but why?”

Shi Kuangwei, a thin and dark man, spoke with a strong northwest accent and laughed: "Could it be that the Khitan Dog Emperor Yelu Deguang is about to die of illness?"

"Hahaha~~ Shi Jieshuai said it well! I heard that Yelu De fell seriously ill just after leaving Xiangzhou. He must have committed so many crimes that even God couldn't stand it and wanted to take his life. !”

Pan Mei praised her for her strength, and laughed loudly after taking over the words. Her loud voice even drowned out the sound of the alarm bell on the tower.

Shi Kuangwei originally wanted to tell a joke to make everyone laugh and relieve the tension of the impending war. Unexpectedly, only Pan Mei responded to him, and the rest were serious.

The two looked at each other and turned their heads in embarrassment.

Chai Rong said: "Cangzhou is an important town in Hebei. The Khitan people are not willing to return north. If they can capture Cangzhou, they can wedge a nail south of the Zhang River as a bridgehead for the future southward movement. Therefore, the Khitan army will definitely attack with all its strength. And our army will defend at all costs."

Zhao Pu said in a low voice: "I heard that King Yelu Wuyu of Yongkang is a general of the Khitan clan. He is brave and good at fighting. This battle is not easy to fight~~"

Liu Chengyou looked into the distance and saw the thousands of troops and horses galloping in the Khitan camp. His face showed fear and he said in panic: "The Khitan soldiers have no less than 5 soldiers, and there are also Han troops recruited from various places to help. How can the small city of Cangzhou be defended?" Stay? Why not concentrate our forces to break out to the west and retreat to Jingzhou and Qizhou!"

"What His Highness the Second Highness said is true!" Zhang Yanchao immediately agreed.

Chai Rong said calmly: "Don't worry, Your Highness. Although there are many Khitan soldiers, there are also many soldiers and civilians in Cangzhou City, and there are sufficient grain reserves. If we can work together to defend the city, we will definitely be able to repel the enemy!"

"How sure is Brother Chai?" Liu Chengyou pressed.

In the past few days of discussing military affairs, Liu Chengyou repeatedly proposed to abandon the city and withdraw his troops. Especially when he heard that there were [-] Khitan troops and [-] to [-] Han troops coming from the north. He was even more panicked and tried his best to urge Chai Rong to abandon the defense. city.

But Chai Rong remained unmoved, which made Liu Chengyou quite annoyed.

Liu Chengyou made a good calculation. Chai Rong was the defense envoy of Cangzhou. If he took the lead in withdrawing the troops, even if Cangzhou City was lost, the blame would be borne by Chai Rong and Guo Wei.

But if Chai Rong refused to withdraw, even if Liu Chengyou could take away the Zuo Wei Army, if Cangzhou City was lost in the end, Liu Zhiyuan would not be able to spare him.

Therefore, Liu Chengyou repeatedly encouraged Chai Rong to withdraw his troops. Firstly, he would not have to take responsibility, and secondly, he could save his life.

If the city is breached and he, the second prince of the Liu Han court, falls into the hands of the Khitans, he is afraid of a miserable end.

Chai Rong naturally understood Liu Chengyou's thoughts, clasped his fists and said, "Second Highness, there is no need to worry. The last general has issued a military order in front of Guo Shuai. If he cannot defend Cangzhou City, the last general will bear all the blame! Even if he wants to behead, he will be beheaded head!"

Zhang Yanchao said in a strange tone: "Chai Yashuai said it lightly. Your Highness, the Second Highness, is so valuable as a prince. Is it possible that when the city is destroyed, His Highness will be buried here with you?" Several personal guards and generals behind Chai Rong looked at each other. With an angry look on his face, Zhang Yanchao meant what he said: Chai Rong's life is not as valuable as Liu Chengyou's gold.

Chai Rong narrowed his bright eyes, slowly put down his hand, and said in a slightly cold tone: "Chai was ordered to defend Cangzhou and control the troops. How could he abandon the city and flee?"

Liu Chengyou saw that Chai Rong's generals looked unkind and hurriedly smoothed things over and said: "General Zhang is also worried that the Khitan army is too strong and Cangzhou City will be unable to resist. He has no other intention. Brother Chai, please don't misunderstand."

Zhang Yanchao also knew that he had made a mistake and had curry favor with Liu Chengyou, but offended Chai Rong and Tianxiongjun. He hurriedly handed over his hand and said: "Zhang made a slip of the tongue and did not mean to offend Chai Yashuai."

Chai Rong smiled lightly, not having the same experience as him, and asked Fu Jinzhan: "Are the tools for defending the city ready?"

Fu Jinzhan smiled bitterly and said: "The Khitan army came so quickly and the number of people was far greater than expected. I'm afraid the equipment that was originally prepared was not enough. Only six of the ten throwing carts are usable, there are [-] kilograms of fierce fire oil left, and about six or seven fire pots Baitan has the fewest arrows, which are only enough for two days. The rest of the flying hooks, hanging spleens, crash carts and other equipment are also damaged. There are insufficient craftsmen in the city and the repair progress is slow. We also need to organize civilians to step up the demolition of a number of houses and prepare for them. Beating wood and rolling stone.”

Chai Rong said: "Immediately organize manpower to move the prepared defensive equipment to the east and west towers. Zhao Zheng led the government officials and organized civilian craftsmen to step up preparations."

Zhao Pu hurriedly bowed and saluted: "I will accept your order!"

"I personally led the Tianxiong Army to guard the East Gate Tower, Mrs. Fu led the Heng Haijun and [-] Left Guards to guard the West Gate Tower, and General Zhang led the remaining Left Guards to carry supplies in the city, appease the refugees, maintain order in the city, and also have other responsibilities. Treat the wounded and light a fire to cook.”

Chai Rong's face was serious, his eyes swept over everyone, and finally landed on Zhang Yanchao: "This is a military order. Anyone who violates it will be dealt with according to military law!"

Zhang Yanchao was shuddered, and he felt that Chai Rong's eyes were full of power, and he lowered his head and said yes.

Everyone took their orders and left.

Outside the city, there was a busy scene of preparations for war, and the clouds of war were about to be overshadowed.

At dawn the next day, as Chai Rong expected, the Khitan army began to attack the city.

The Han army was in front and the Khitan army was behind, launching a fierce attack on the east and west gates of Cangzhou City.

Since the Khitans took over the Sixteenth Prefecture of Youyun, agriculture, animal husbandry and handicrafts have made great progress and development, and the economy and population have grown rapidly.

They also captured a large number of Han craftsmen, and their ordnance manufacturing level was almost the same as that of the Central Plains Dynasty.

Therefore, the Khitan army always has a large number of siege equipment, and conventional siege equipment such as ladders, flying towers, rams, and hooked battleships can be made skillfully.

Stones weighing dozens of kilograms flew over the city wall and fell into the city, killing and injuring a large number of soldiers and civilians, and destroying large areas of houses.

Huge fireballs flew over the east and west city towers. A large number of houses near the east city and west city caught fire, and billowing black smoke shot straight into the sky.

The Han army's cupping jars were also thrown out of the city with carts, and fell into the Khitan army rushing towards the city wall like a tide. The cupping jars exploded, and the burning flames jumped up to the height of a man, killing and burning a large number of enemy troops.

Outside the east and west cities, there were loud shouts of killing, gunpowder smoke filled the air, and mountains of corpses piled up.
　I have been severely hit in my heart, and I urgently need to collect the recommendation votes for comfort~~
　　


(End of this chapter)